"SHIPPOU IS COMING?!" Kagome screeched. Her face was beat red with the force of her breath. She gripped the edge of the couch cushion with her hands, the leather groaning under her grasp.

"Ears," Sesshou glared, reminding her of not only his hearing sensitivity, but also of his ruthlessness. "Kagome, be mindful."

"You could have told me this earlier, you know!" Kagome stood, suddenly furious with him. He implied everyone she knew was dead. Inuyasha, her human friends, even Koga. "He was practically my son!" Tears rushed to her eyes at the admission.

Sesshou openly winced at her volume. He knew his warning was all bark and no bite. He wouldn't hurt her. She had been hurt enough over the course of the past three years.

"Why didn't you tell me!?" She shouted again, glaring down at him from his seat at the piano. She demanded an answer, waiting for his response.

"You needed to cry." He gave himself a moment to compose himself, restraining himself from shaking her. "Inuyasha's death weighs heavily on your heart. You needed to grieve him." Sesshou could see that his answer had given her food for thought.

"I've grieved him for two years already." Kagome bowed her head, sorry for how she behaved, and also sorry for herself. He was right, she knew. She just needed to cry. "I miss him so much." She let herself drop to her knees, and held her face in her hands. She was so embarrassed already for her melt down at the park. She tried not to cry now, fighting the urge to openly weep again.

The warm touch of an open palm on her head surprised her. Kagome peered up slowly, confused, and was greeted with Sesshou's golden eyes staring into her own sorrowful pools. The tears built until his soft features, delicate stripes, and gentle, understanding smile blurred before her. She hadn't realized just how close he had become. Not only now, in this moment, but to her fragile heart. He was a piece of Inuyasha, of feudal Japan, and of her favored memories. He only needed to show he cared, and she welcomed his touch.

"I'm sorry," Kagome sniffled, stifling her tears, "I just can't seem to stop crying."

"I know I am no friend to you," Sesshou removed his hand from atop her head. He was no good at comforting crying females, but somehow a single pat to the head could make both Rin and Kagome remember themselves. "Shippou will be here by morning, I promise." She nodded to affirm she heard him. "I know he would like to tell you all about himself and his accomplishments over the years. He's been incessantly pestering me over when we should re-acquaint ourselves." Kagome laughed through her tears at that. Of course Shippou was excited to see her. He always was.

"Sesshou?" Kagome picked herself up off the floor. His gaze followed her movements. "May I ask you questions?" He nodded as she made herself comfortable next to him on the piano bench. Kagome welcomed herself to the instrument and let her fingers dance over the keys. Sesshou waited for her questions, whatever they may be, and observed as she played in and out of bits of songs she knew on the piano. She switched from Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to Beethoven, Chopsticks, and even Hey Jude by The Beatles.

"I didn't know you could play." Sesshou wondered aloud. In truth, he didn't know much about her, aside from her darkest secret in this modern world.

"Not entirely," She admitted, "I used to take lessons when I was a child." Kagome bobbed her head along with the melodies she played, venturing off the end of one song to make sounds entirely her own. "How come you don't have a mate?"

"Women are insufferable." He appeared grumpy and the response was automatic. Kagome could only laugh at his expense. "What? You proved that just now." His accusation only made her laugh more.

"Men are just as insufferable." Kagome mocked his tone, trying to appear brooding and stoic. "Come on, you're the last surviving Lord, you literally run and command all demon kind. Don't you need an heir?"

"You sound like my mother." His eyebrow twitched in agitation.

"Is she still alive?" Kagome asked almost sheepishly. He'd never mentioned his mother before. Much like Inuyasha, Sesshou had his parental issues as well. However, her question was valid. Nearly everyone they knew is long dead.

"Yes," He sighed, allowing his eyes to close and focus on Kagome's music, "And if you're lucky, you'll never meet her."

"She sounds like she's looking out for you." Kagome was thoughtful, thinking of her own mother. "Listen, about YANA, I don't think I could accept all there is to offer." Kagome stopped playing. Sesshou opened his eyes to view her disposition. He would object if her reasons were ridiculous. "I want to contribute as well. I want to work with Shippou on human affairs, particularly with those who are spiritual. I'm a priestess, and I feel I should honor my knowledge and abilities. My reiki is rusty, but I need to expand on my skills. I think we should train others with the same potential."

He didn't even need to think on it. In time, he knew her vision would come to fruition. She was thoughtful and considerate, accepting and open minded when it came to demons and what it meant to be good or evil. However, before she began to teach, she herself needed to learn.

"On two conditions," Sesshou offered, "You must first master your skills," Kagome knew that was coming and agreed wholeheartedly. "And you must tell me why you left."